‘It’s why we campaigned against it’: Flemington racetrack flood wall sparks anger

A flood-prevention wall built around Flemington Racecourse “undoubtedly” made Friday’s flooding in Melbourne worse, says former local councillor and current Greens Senator Janet Rice.

The sight of brown Maribyrnong River floodwater surrounding the pristine green racetrack infuriated residents, who said it illustrated why they campaigned against the flood wall from being built in the first place.

The wall, they argued, directed the muddy floodwater away from the natural floodplain, into their homes.

The flood wall around Flemington racetrack on Friday, protecting the turf.Credit: Aisha Dow

But the head of Racing Victoria, Andrew Jones, said the Victoria Racing Club had been “entitled” to build a flood wall around Flemington racecourse in 2007, “[and] that’s obviously had unintended consequences for neighbouring residents”.

“Obviously, there is no intention of the VRC to cause harm. They are trying to protect the Spring Carnival and the Melbourne Cup Carnival, which is a massively important part of Victorian life and the Victorian economy,” Jones told Nine’s Today show.

Rice – who was a Maribyrnong councillor between 2003 and 2008 and mayor in 2006 – said there was a big campaign against the wall when it was built because of concerns about the potential impact on nearby houses.

“Looking at the photos of water being walled off from the racecourse, it shows exactly why we were campaigning against it,” she said. “It’s undoubtedly made the flood worse. The flood plains are there for a purpose.”

The flood wall was built after then-planning minister Mary Delahunty overturned a bid by the City of Melbourne, and Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley councils, to block it.

“They [the VRC] got what they wanted, it was quite inappropriate that it happened but they managed to convince the government at the time,” Rice said.

“The VRC said at the time you couldn’t possibly have the Cup carnival interrupted. It just says to me the level of influence that the gambling industry has on Victoria.”

When the flood wall was approved, Melbourne Water produced modelling to show that it wouldn’t increase the risk to people and property if certain mitigation steps were taken.

Melbourne Water will conduct an investigation into the flood but said it was the result of significant rainfall associated with La Nina weather conditions.

“The construction of the flood wall was subject to a range of additional flood mitigation measures as well as ongoing maintenance and management of these assets,” a Melbourne Water spokesperson said on Saturday.

Maribyrnong mayor Anthony Tran said the racecourse’s management had some clear questions to answer.

“I don’t know what their strategy was, and I’m sure it was to preserve the racecourse – and fair play to them. But the more land there is to absorb the water, the less water there is in the area. But the damage has now been done,” Tran said.

The outrage flared after former VRC chief executive, Dale Monteith, now chairman of Harness Racing Victoria, took to social media to praise the flood wall on Friday, posting “then and now” pictures of previous flooding at the racetrack.

“Took five years with process and build,” he posted. “Pretty happy that we have left a legacy for future of Flemington. Was always going to happen but ignored previously.”

Flemington Racecourse submerged by floodwaters in 1974.Credit: The Age Archives

The tweet has since been deleted.

Local residents and social media users were quick to voice their disapproval.

“Are you ... actually bragging about building a wall that is currently redirecting flood water away from a natural flood plain and onto/into people’s streets and homes,” Abigail Lewis posted. “Just like the residents you steamrolled at the time warned you it would?”

James Hutcheon posted: “Ah yeah as a resident of the area it’s so fantastic that the racecourse is fine while all the local roads are under a metre of water.”

Tran said residents had expressed concerns about the potential impact of the wall on the severity of flooding.

“Many friends have voiced their concern about it,” he said. “That’s their view.”

“My perspective is I am more worried about getting residents out and making sure they were safe. I wasn’t worried about what Flemington Racecourse was doing.

“But I’m sure if they were questioned, they would have a lot to answer for.”

Tran said about 80 houses in his council had been significantly damaged by floodwaters, leaving about 400 people homeless.

“A lot of families have been forced to take the bare minimum: phones, laptops, medications. But family heirlooms, family photos, all those memories have been lost,” he said.

“A lot of families really just want to go home to get photos – not even their clothes, just photos.”

On Saturday, the head of the State Emergency Service, Tim Wiebusch, said that it was not clear whether the flood wall surrounding the racecourse had made the situation worse for nearby houses.

“Whether that has contributed to some of the flooding is something probably that we will need to refer to Melbourne Water to talk through how that plays out hydrologically,” he said.

Wiebusch said that he was not aware of anyone from the emergency services raising issues with the flood wall in the past.

Properties and gardens left damaged on Saturday after the flooding of the Maribyrnong River.Credit: Scott McNaughton

When the project was approved, Delahunty said: “The flood protection works and racetrack upgrade will ensure that major horse racing events at Flemington, such as the Cup or the Victoria Derby, cannot be affected by major flooding of the Maribyrnong River.”

However, Maribyrnong councillor Bill Horrocks warned of the future impact on residents.

“So when the inevitable happens and our community is knee-deep in water, we hope the minister is ready to take the heat,” he said at the time.

The VRC declined to comment when contacted by The Age on Friday and Saturday.

Maribyrnong residents began the arduous task of cleaning out their water-logged, mud-filled homes on Saturday after the river peaked on Friday.

Hoang Nguyen and wife Lam Luong cleaning up their home in Maribyrnong on Saturday.Credit: Marta Pascual

The roads and footpaths are covered in several inches of mud, and neighbours are using brooms and rakes to sweep it away from their driveways and gardens.

Damaged household goods, furniture and clothes are piled up on the footpaths along Oakland Street.

Mother-of-five Lam Loung was putting her family’s soiled personal belongings in plastic bags as her father-in-law carted cardboard boxes and rubbish away in a wheelbarrow.

The flooded Maribyrnong River at Flemington Racecourse on Friday.Credit: Will Mallory

Loung said her family had lost everything, including the food, clothes and the pram for her seven-month-old child. “I need to buy everything and start all over again like I’ve just arrived to Australia,” she said.

On Chifley Drive, which runs along the river, wheelie bins sit in trees and the road is covered in several inches of mud, which was starting to dry – and smell – on Saturday morning.

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